Highlights

DOUALA, Cameroon - Nicolas Pépé scored a superb solo goal as Ivory Coast thumped Algeria 3-1 to send the defending champions crashing out of the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Thursday following a disastrous Group E campaign.

Algeria's 35-game unbeaten run was ended by Equatorial Guinea in a stunning upset in their last match, and they were outplayed again by the impressive Ivorians, who might have had more goals with better finishing.

LIMBE, Cameroon - Sierra Leone’s veteran striker Kei Kamara missed a late penalty to scupper their chances of reaching the next round of the Africa Cup of Nations as they lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Thursday.

Pablo Ganet’s 38th-minute strike ensured Equatorial Guinea finished second in Group E and progressed, but Sierra Leone might have gone through as one of the best third-placed finishers if they had forced a draw.

They were awarded a last-minute penalty, but Kamara’s effort was saved by Equatorial Guinea’s 20-year-old goalkeeper Jesús Owono.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a marvel; the 36-year-old continues to be one of the best forwards in the history of the beautiful game. But sometimes marvels can pout like spoiled kids, as happened when we saw Ronaldo benched by Manchester United coach Ralf Rangnick on Wednesday. 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria are now favorites at the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Guinea-Bissau 2-0 on Wednesday to become the only team to make it through the group stage in Cameroon with a perfect record. 

The form of Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has sent a message across Africa — he scored the match-winner against Egypt and provided a beautiful assist on Wednesday's opening goal — but the player to watch has been Nantes winger Moses Simon.

Alexia Putellas is the greatest player in the world after winning FIFA’s Best Women’s Player of 2021, the Ballon d’Or and a bountiful amount of trophies. After being inexplicably snubbed from FIFA’s FIFPRO World XI squad, she flexed on her doubters with a game-winning goal in the Supercopa de España Femenina semifinal vs. Real Madrid to win 1-0.

Matt Miazga earned a second straight start on Tuesday since returning from Covid-19 for Alavés. It was a match he’ll want to forget, committing a shocking mistake to gift Real Betis a goal. The only bright side was Alavés conceded three other goals in a 4-0 defeat, including two beauties I must label Puskás worthy lest I be called out if one actually wins the honor in a year’s time. 

Comoros, making its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations appearance, has knocked out four-time champion and enemy of the USMNT Ghana after scoring its first three goals in tournament history during an insane 3-2 victory.